I’m over at Simple Homeschool today sharing the curriculum we used this year. Some things worked, some didn’t. Hop on over there and check out the FishFam’s reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic choices.

And I’d love to get your two cents about next year’s options!

What Works in Our Homeschool is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

The days are lengthening and the sun shines a little longer, however, school and weekly activities can preclude our enjoyment of the nicer weather. Contributing writer JessieLeigh offers some great tips on how to enjoy both.

Spring is upon us and that means warmer weather and longer daylight.  That’s wonderful news and reason for joy, in my opinion!  However, one of the challenges I face as a mother of children in public school is the inability to capitalize on all this gorgeous weather and light.  I would love to be able to have them outside for hours throughout the day, breathing fresh air and running through the sunlight.  Alas, while I am comforted that our school does do outdoor recess, the rest of their days are not really in my control.

Nonetheless, there are some simple things I can do to celebrate the season and help my children make the most of Spring’s beauty!

Switch up the schedule.

While parents who send their children to public school simply cannot set the hours that school is in session, we can switch up how we do things at home.  Some nights, I might allow my children to stay up a tad later than usual to enjoy some balmy star-gazing.  Planning a quick, simple breakfast for the next day and easy to put-on clothing choices allows them to catch a few extra winks in the morning hours instead.  Other times, I forgo the usual “afternoon homework hour” in favor of letting my son run free outdoors.  A naturally early riser like his mama, he catches up at the table while I cook breakfast.  We may not have any control over the “9:00 – 3:00″ schedule, or whatever it might be, but we can change how we approach all the hours in between!

Dine al fresco.

One of the simplest– and most fun!– ways to get abundant fresh air when time might be crunched is to eat your dinner outdoors.  You need to eat, so why not multi-task and get some great open-air family time while you’re at it?  It doesn’t have to be grilled fare to be enjoyed outside!  Sandwiches, salads, burritos, and wraps are all easy to consume no matter where you might be.  Want a fun change?  Eat something ultra-messy and don’t waste a single moment worrying about it.  Plan a post-supper sprinkler run and delight your little ones.

Tackle assignments in the great outdoors.

Reading assignments seem so much more indulgent when completed in a swinging hammock.  Math homework can just as easily be done at a table on a deck or porch as one in the kitchen.  Because they find the breezes refreshing and the sunshine lifts their spirits, my children get less antsy when working on their homework outside rather than in.  And I can just as easily take on outdoor tasks, like weeding or hanging clothes on the line, as the indoor ones I tend to do while they work on assignments.

Get out for family activities.

Whether they’re organized sports, like soccer or baseball, or family hobbies like post-dinner walks or hikes in the woods, reintroduce activities that, by their very nature, get you out in the fresh air.

Watching movies, reading books, and doing puzzles are fantastic ways to come together as a family.  Now, however, is the perfect time to abandon the family room in favor of the family yard or a nearby park or ball-field.  We all have to make choices about how we spend our precious free-time.

Why not let outdoor activities take center-stage while the weather is so very cooperative? These glorious breezes and lingering light won’t last forever… seize the days and embrace Spring with your kids!

How do you manage to celebrate the season when time is limited?

– A mother of three, including a 24 week preemie, JessieLeigh is a determined advocate for even the tiniest of babies.  She can be found celebrating life’s (sometimes unexpected) miracles and blessings at Parenting Miracles.

Enjoy Spring Even When Your Hours are Limited is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

With spring vacations, Easter, and Passover quickly approaching, you may be reaching for your camera a little bit more. Heed these tips from Life as MOM contributor and professional photographer, Alex Maldonado.

If your family photo collection is anything like ours, it’s 90% pictures of your kids. 9% pictures of your kids and the parent who is not good at taking pictures and 1% photos that include everyone.

When I first started documenting our family, I was super sure I should be the one taking the pictures all the time. After all, being a professional photographer means I should always be the one shooting. The thing we quickly realized is that when I’m shooting a wedding, it’s OK if I’m not in any of the photos. (My clients kinda prefer it that way.)

But, when it comes to telling the story of my family, I kinda should be in the photos. I’m part of the story. So little by little we have found ways to get me in front of the camera.

Here are a few little tips that have worked for us:

1. Teach your kids.

The sooner you teach your kids to use a camera, the sooner you will start ending up in more photos.

At first, you’ll be blurry and out of focus. Then you’ll be in focus, but half your face will be out of the frame. Finally you’ll be in focus, your whole body will be in the shot, but I’m 99% sure they won’t capture you at a “flattering” angle. Guess what? It’s ok. No one is saying you have to frame it and hang it up in your living room. At least you made it into a photo.

Not only does this technique get you into some family photos, it’s a HUGE confidence builder for your kids and may unleash a passion for photography in them. Over time they will get better and one day you’ll wake up and your kids will be better photographers than you are.

2. Let the “non-professional” spouse take a few.

I know it’s easy to always let the spouse who is good at taking photos to be the one snapping away. I know this because I’m super guilty of this in our own family. I know how to take the best picture so I should be the one taking it right?

The reality is that we usually don’t need the “best picture”. We usually just need a picture of what’s happening. AND, the more I let my wife shoot WITHOUT my critiquing her work, like I”m the photo editor for the Washington Post, the better she becomes.

Little by little I’ve starting appearing in more family photos. (And I kinda like it.) That photo above is one my wife took and it may be my most favorite picture ever of my kids and I.

3. Talk to strangers.

This may be the easiest one, but it’s the one we are most scared to do. Anytime you are somewhere unique, don’t just shoot a photo of your kids there. Hop into the frame yourself. I know all cameras have little self timers, but let’s be realistic; those things are impossible to nail. This may be the best skill you can master when taking a family photo. “Excuse me, would you mind taking a quick picture of all of us?” Did you see how hard that was? I mean really. It’s like one sentence. I’ll wait while you practice saying it out loud. Ready…

“Excuse me, would you mind taking a quick picture of all of us?”

OK, I seriously think only 4 of you did it. I’ll give you one last try. For real. Say it out loud.

“Excuse me, would you mind taking a quick picture of all of us?”

There see. That was not that bad.

What’s funny, is your kids may end up looking at the camera and taking a better photo if someone other than you is shooting.

The main thing to remember is why we are shooting. We are not photographing our family to win a contest or create art. We are taking these frames to tell a story. To document their lives. How sad would it be for our kids to look back on thousands and thousands of photos and only find us in 2-3 of them. So let’s all promise to get better at handing the camera over.

Whaddya think?

Those of you who are already doing this, how about a little encouragement?! Tell us about your favorite picture your kids have ever taken of you.

– AlexM is a Texas-based wedding photographer. He specializes in buying lots of expensive gear for his “clients” and then using it at home to take better photos of his kids. Visit his website or shoot the breeze with him on twitter. 

How to Improve Your Family Photos is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Ya gotta eat, right? But, meal prep can take a big bite out of the day, especially in a busy home, whether you homeschool or not.

Our Extreme Home(school) Makeover is well under way. Today I’m sharing a little bit about it over on Simple Homeschool, including how we’re handling that issue of eating. From the post…

One of the things that seems to come up every single day, however, the one thing that has the potential to derail our days is, well, that thing about eating. Ya just gotta eat, dontcha?

Now, as a food blogger, you’d think that I’d be all over this eating and cooking thing. And I am. But, at the same time, I’ve realized that to put my family and our school first, sometimes that means I need to be out of the kitchen. In fact, if I start getting all creative and start cooking up a storm, well, I might not come out for hours on end.

Hop on over to Simple Homeschool and check out my 4 Ways to Simplify (Home)School Meals. Whether you homeschool or not, I’d love to hear your tricks for mealtimes on days when you’re all at home.

Simplifying (Home) School Meals is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Just as the homeschooling community is starting to prepare for the coming school year, so are your local preschools. Life as MOM contributor, JessieLeigh, offers some things to think about as you start to line up your preschool options for next year.

Spring is right around the corner, and March is an important month when it comes to schooling. For many, this is a time of parent conferences and kindergarten orientations. Still others find themselves faced with the possibility of preschool. Registrations and applications are often due this time of year, and parents of little ones are left wondering what their best option might be.

Each family is different and needs vary from child to child. Still, preschool is something many of us weigh and consider. If you find yourself in that situation, here are some important questions to ask yourself as you begin the process of looking.

Does my child even NEED preschool?

Obviously, plenty of parents opt out of preschool. There are abundant examples of children who receive a stellar start right at home. So, the short answer? No. Preschool is not required before kindergarten and any of the “academics” and learning can most certainly be done at home.

Some additional things to consider:

• Would my child benefit from the social aspect of a preschool?
• Would the structure of a preschool day be beneficial or detrimental to my child’s personality?
• Would I feel more confident having another opinion about my child’s development?
• Can we afford to pay for preschool right now?

All of these will help you decide if it even “feels” right.

At what age should he begin preschool?

For the most part, there are three-year-old and four-year-old preschool programs. For some three-year-olds, preschool offers a predictable structure that is helpful. Particularly for children who receive therapies (I’ve parented two of them), preschool can provide a nice setting in which to receive this added help. Other children? Might be happier and do just as well starting at four.

The one thing I would caution you to remember is this– many quality four-year-old programs are already at capacity because of the three-year-olds moving into it. It can be much harder to get into a “desirable” class if you don’t start at three. Just something to think about.

How many days do I want my child to go?

Preschool programs vary. I’ve seen some that meet two days a week and some that meet five. Some are a scant two hours and others encompass four or even five. It just depends. You know your child, and yourself, better than anyone. Really consider what you think would be best. Two days away might be perfect, or it might leave little time to play if your child receives services in school.

Will she cry?

Maybe. Maybe not. Kids all have different personalities and histories. So do mommies. The first few days will likely be tough because any new routine can be tough. With very few exceptions, children adjust and do very well. In the rare case that your little one doesn’t? There’s no shame in pulling her out of the class and opting to wait to start school away from home.

My kid goes to daycare– isn’t that the same thing?

Well, that would depend on the daycare. Some daycare centers have a definite educational program going on, taught by age, by trained professionals. Others? Are based largely on providing basic care for your child– meals, stories, kissing boo-boo’s, etc. There’s nothing wrong with either type. It’s up to you to decide if you feel your daycare provides an adequate or even superior pre-K education.

What kind of preschool should I look for?

Take some time and really think about what type of preschool you’d like. Is it important to you that there be a religious component? If so, does it need to follow your specific denomination, or are you comfortable with a broader view? Would you like a private preschool or would you like to start in the public school? Do you care if the teachers have teaching credentials or Red Cross certification? These are all valuable things to consider.

What are the pros and cons?

Ultimately, this is what will help seal the deal one or the other for you. Some questions that might help you compile your list include:

• Am I ready to part with my child for at least a few hours each week?
• Does my child receive speech, physical, or occupational therapy?
• Do I feel confident meeting my child’s academic, social, and developmental needs at home?
• Does our town have a good, recommended program?
• What do other parents I respect say about the local preschools?
• Does our church have a reputable preschool program available?
• Is our daycare doing an adequate or good job of working on preschool skills?
• How will preschool costs affect our budget?
• You may need to consider additional items based on your family’s situation, but these should give you a jumping off point.

For our family, we chose preschool for our two older children, and I believe our third will be going as well. That works for our family. Like so many aspects of parenting, what’s best for one family may not be the best for another. There are LOTS of “right answers”, if you will, and only you know what is the perfect fit.

What do YOU think?

What questions do you have about the preschool process? Have you been through it before? What input can you offer to other families?

– A mother of three, including a 24 week preemie, JessieLeigh is a determined advocate for even the tiniest of babies.  She can be found celebrating life’s (sometimes unexpected) miracles and blessings at Parenting Miracles.

Planning for Preschool is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Attending a homeschool conference or researching ways to makeover your homeschool can be great ways to face and overcome challenges.

Has it really been six weeks since I had my homeschool crisis? Back in mid-January I realized that our home school wasn’t the smooth running machine that I wanted it to be. So, I set myself to the task of an Extreme Home(school) Makeover.

Not only did I put a lot of social and business tasks on hold, but I also did a lot of research. I bought some more books. I examined what I liked about our school and what desperately needed some improvements.

What I found was a return to some of the basic practices that I first embraced when we set down this path ten years ago. I’m doing a thorough reread of The Well-Trained Mind, this time with every age level in mind. I’ve readjusted some of our curriculum, but not much. And I’ve focused on the basics.

Initially, the result was that my inbox was bursting at the seams and I felt behind in all my writing projects. But, once I got past that and focused on the greater good for my family, we started to see progress.

Six weeks down the line, I’ve learned a few things about myself and the current season of life that we are in.

Five students requires my full attention all day.

I’m not able to multi-task today in the same way I could when I taught kindergarten and preschool ten years ago. I tried to do some baking on a school day a few weeks ago and realized that that ship has sailed. The day was scattered as was my attention.

Basic skills are the goal for most of my kids.

Most of my kids are still in elementary grades. Skill-building is really our focus. If we don’t get to all the history projects that I want to get to, that will be okay. Reading, writing, and math skills are building blocks for learning anything they want to learn. I can give myself some slack, remembering this.

My kids need to know the goals for our school.

Some of my pupils have gotten caught up with “checking things off” their lists to such an extent that they feel stressed. Most of this is unnecessary. We had a great conversation one afternoon about what’s most important: learning.

photo source

Time management is key to a relaxed, fruitful day.

Previously, I had attempted a daily minute-by-minute schedule (despite my disdain for schedules) because that is what most homeschoolers recommend. I’ve heard it more times than not, to set up this kind of schedule. The result was a frantic mother as I hopped from child to child and back again.

Instead of looking at small windows of time, I rebuilt our school schedule along the lines of a time budget. Each child has a large block of time with me each day. Depending on age and grade level as well as the day of the week and work load, I sit down with each child and focus. Not only are we getting an intentional time together, but I’m not distracted by other things. We go through the work together, agree on the “independent work” for the day, and I move on to the next child.

This is truly the key to a more peaceful me. And I find that my kids are more peaceful, knowing that they are each going to have my undivided attention at a certain time each day. (My phone alarms are programmed with a different ring tone for each child to remind me!)

Working with the seasons is important.

Certainly, things aren’t perfect in our little homeschool. In fact, I know there will be more bumps in the road. In just a few months, this school year will close, and we’ll transition into 10th, 7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st, and pre-K. In essence I’ll have six students.

Life as MOM sponsor Great Homeschool Conventions has offered me a complimentary family pass to attend the Long Beach event. Not only does it offer hubs and I a chance to get away on our own, but it promises to give us some time for reflection and planning for our new homeschool seasons to come.

Some things I’m looking forward to:

• Unlimited access to books for purchase
• Connecting with some of you! (Let me know if you’ll be there!)
• Workshops and talks by those in the field of home education

Five Conventions Nationwide

Among their speakers at their five different conventions this year:

• Susan Wise Bauer
• Andrew Pudewa
• Diana Waring
• Dr. Jay Wile
• Amanda Bennett
• David Hazel
• Chuck Colson
• Dr. Carol Reynolds
• Todd Wilson
• Sonya Shafer
• John Stonestreet
• John Rosemond
• Dr. Jonathan Sarfati
• Carl Kerby
• and Money Saving Mom, Crystal Paine

Susan Wise Bauer and Andrew Pudewa have helped our homeschool tremendously, so I’m looking forward to hearing them speak in Long Beach in just a few months. Those of you in the Mid-west can even hear my friend Crystal Paine speak as well. Jealous!

In addition to a great lineup of speakers, there will also be huge Homeschool Curriculum Exhibit Halls and 100′s of Homeschooling Workshops. Great Homeschool Conventions are located all across the country, so there just may be one near you!

Southeast Homeschool Convention

Mar. 22–24, 2012
TD Convention Center, Greenville, SC

Mid South Homeschool Convention

Apr. 12–14, 2012
Memphis Convention Center, Memphis, TN

Cincinnati Homeschool Convention

April 19–21, 2012
Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH

California Homeschool Convention

May 24–26, 2012
Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA

Northeast Homeschool Convention

June 14–6, 2012
Hartford Convention Center, Hartford, CT

I’m looking forward to the California Homeschool Convention as another way to get perspective and to breathe new life into what we do as well as to batten down the hatches for the changes and challenges that are sure to come next year.

How do YOU prepare for challenges?

Disclosure: if you make a purchase through that Amazon link up there, I do receive a small percentage of the sale.

Thoughts on Homeschooling, Makeovers & Homeschool Conventions is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Parenting and homeschooling six children has been, by far, the wildest ride of my life yet. The month of January was a particular roller coaster-ish one. When Jamie mentioned that we were sharing our “day in the life,” I inwardly cringed. I would have loved to present a picture perfect image and a schedule to match.

But, alas, that is not my reality.

I’m over at Simple Homeschool sharing what a real day looks like for the FishFam. Hop on over and check it out!

A Day in My Life is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Head’s up! If you make a purchase through the Amazon link in this post, I do receive a small percentage of the sale.

As I mentioned last week, we’re undergoing some major home(school) renovations around here. I’ve had my nose in books and homeschooling blogs and forums for the last week or so. I’ve also received a handful of book shipments with fresh meat.

Yes, we’re going to enjoy the rest of this year — or else.

For the curious, I am rereading The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise, a book that I read when it was first released in 1999. My original copy is falling apart at the seams. Since the book has been revised twice since its original release, I splurged on a new, 1oth anniversary edition that has been updated for out-of-print-books as well as new resources that have come on the scene in the last decade.

The world is a very different place than it was ten years ago. Yes, I’m waxing old woman right now. But, seriously. We had dial-up. Very slow, takes-five-minutes-to-load-a-page dial-up. And very few blogs were on the internet, at least for the masses. Homeschooling resources were not as sophisticated as they are now.

Yes, things have changed. I can buy a book and instantly download it to my Kindle, faster than I can can take a breath. I can communicate with folks all over the world in a matter of seconds. In all my research, I found that there’s even an ipad app for my 9th grader’s Biology curriculum. Go figure.

So, a lot of my research this last week has been to survey the territory and see what our options are.

And one of the things I keep pining for is a place to go hear speakers like Susan Wise Bauer (maybe even stalk her and ask some real life questions) and to flip through these books before I buy them.

You know where I’m going with this, right? A homeschooling convention!

I think I’ve only been to two homeschooling conferences ever…. 2006 and 2008. I think I’m due for another. While I don’t expect it to solve all my problems, I am looking forward to hearing different voices and flipping through a multitude of books. And I’m going in May!

Life as MOM sponsor Great Homeschool Conventions has offered me a complimentary family pass to attend the Long Beach event. I am more than excited. And even though it’s a “family pass,” I’m actually hoping to leave the family at home. While Long Beach is not too far away from San Diego, I’m hoping for a great little overnighter with my main squeeze.

We aren’t big “homeschool movement” type folks. In fact, the FishFam probably doesn’t fit in any certain category of homeschoolers. There are folks who are much more conservative than us, as well as those that are more liberal. I don’t wear a jumper or tattoos. I cut my hair short. Hubs has a pierced ear.

In short, we just do what we do. But, that doesn’t mean we aren’t willing to hear what other folks have to say. And that is one of the things that attracted me to GHC. It appears that are presenting a range and a breadth to their convention that is atypical of the other conventions I’ve been to.

Five Conventions Nationwide

Among their speakers at their five different conventions this year:

• Susan Wise Bauer
• Andrew Pudewa
• Diana Waring
• Dr. Jay Wile
• Amanda Bennett
• David Hazel
• Chuck Colson
• Dr. Carol Reynolds
• Todd Wilson
• Sonya Shafer
• John Stonestreet
• John Rosemond
• Dr. Jonathan Sarfati
• Carl Kerby
• and Money Saving Mom, Crystal Paine

Susan Wise Bauer and Andrew Pudewa have helped our homeschool tremendously, so I’m looking forward to hearing them speak in Long Beach in just a few months. Those of you in the Mid-west can even hear my friend Crystal Paine speak as well. Jealous!

In addition to a great lineup of speakers, there will also be huge Homeschool Curriculum Exhibit Halls and 100′s of Homeschooling Workshops. Great Homeschool Conventions are located all across the country, so there just may be one near you!

Southeast Homeschool Convention

Mar. 22–24, 2012
TD Convention Center, Greenville, SC

Mid South Homeschool Convention

Apr. 12–14, 2012
Memphis Convention Center, Memphis, TN

Cincinnati Homeschool Convention

April 19–21, 2012
Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH

California Homeschool Convention

May 24–26, 2012
Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA

Northeast Homeschool Convention

June 14–6, 2012
Hartford Convention Center, Hartford, CT

I’m looking forward to the California Homeschool Convention as another way to get perspective and to breathe new life into what we do.

How do you reenergize for your homeschool?

Homeschool Makeover and Great Homeschool Conventions is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Teaching my boys to cook is a great way for us to eat well and spend less, while they live under my roof as well as after they fly the nest.

Ever since my firstborn could stand up on a kitchen chair, we’ve encouraged our kids to help in the kitchen.

(That’s he and I almost ten years ago. We were remodeling our kitchen, but that didn’t stop us from cooking up a storm together.)

Now that the older ones are older, I’ve realized that I haven’t done the best job in making them independent in the kitchen. In fact, the older kids have been usurped by the littler ones who want to help. We haven’t moved too far past someone standing on the kitchen chair helping mom.

Only the names have changed.

When Shaina told me last month that her five year old could bake cupcakes unassisted, I realized the error of my ways. In the name of a clean kitchen and conserving resources (ie ingredients flung about the kitchen), I’ve kept my children in the dark, or at least not allowed them to fend for themselves.

This month, as part of my Pantry Challenge and my food goals for the year, I set about to change that.

I just can’t do it all. Therefore, teaching my kids to cook will help us to eat well and spend less while they live in our home. I won’t be the sole cook and bottle washer or as tempted to run for take-out on a night when I’m just too tired. I can call in the reserves!

And teaching my boys to cook will help them to eat well and spend less once they leave our home as young men. They’ll be able to fend for themselves, be independent of restaurant fare, and possibly woo the girl, too.

While my younger three are 7, 5, and 3, and still quite suited to being assistants, my older three are definitely cooking school candidates. At 9, 11, and 14, they love to eat and are perfectly able to make part or all a meal.

If they know how.

So, that’s the mission I’m on. It hasn’t happened in three weeks’ time. No, I think this will be a year-long goal, but I’m hoping that by this time next year, I’ll have some full-fledged sous chefs on my hands.

Here’s what we’ve done so far:

1. Create a recipe book that is easy for them to access.

I enlisted FishBoy11 to help with this project: a family recipe book that everyone could access. My recipes are all over the place. How could they know that some are only online while others are on ratty recipe cards in my grandmother’s handwriting in a binder on the second to the top shelf of the bookcase in the schoolroom?

Yes, I’m complicated.

So, at the beginning of the month, I printed out copies of the month’s meal plan as well as the recipes to go with. He created dividers as well as a book cover, and compiled them all in a binder. Cool.

2. Enlist a child’s help with kitchen prep whenever possible.

A lot of my cooking this month has been hodge podge lately due to the Pantry Challenge. But, one thing that has been constant has been prep work as concerns all the fresh produce we get each week in a subscription box. Everyone is pretty eager to see what each week holds as well as to taste what’s included.

Kitchen prep lessons have involved juicing lemons, making lemonade, washing spinach, peeling sundry root vegetables, and otherwise exploring this world of strange and new fruits and vegetables. What WILL we do with those rutabagas and lemon grass, anyway?

As a result, the kids are learning about the produce as well as the techniques used to prepare it.

3. Offer cooking tutorials often.

As I’m cooking dinner each night, I’ve been more intentional about including a child in the prep work and/or offering a tutorial/running commentary about how to make a certain dish. I’ve given the rice pilaf lecture at least twice in the last three weeks.

I figure that repetition and visuals are helpful to learning and if I’m right there while someone’s stirring the pot, they will become more comfortable in the kitchen.

 What’s next?

As the month draws to a close, I’ll be enlisting their input on the meal plan for February as well as their help in a round of freezer cooking. Yes, this should be interesting….

But, I think that teaching my boys to cook and making them independent in the kitchen is a worthy goal for the year and a great way to eat well and spend less!

This post is part of an ongoing series about how to eat well and spend less. Along with some fabulous foodies, organizers, and frugalistas, I’ve been bringing you suggestions on how to eat like a king without becoming a pauper to do it. This month we’re discussing our food goals for the year.

From wasting less in the kitchen to saving money on healthy foods to eating better for baby, we’ve gotcha covered on all manner of tasty resolutions.

Be sure to check out what the other ladies are sharing this week or browse their archives:

• Aimee from Simple Bites
• Amy from Kingdom First Mom
• Carrie from Denver Bargains
• Katie from Good Life Eats
• Katie from Kitchen Stewardship
• Mandi from Life Your Way
• Shaina from Food for My Family
• Tammy from Tammy’s Recipes

Have you made any Food Resolutions this year?

Teaching My Boys to Cook (Eat Well, Spend Less) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Homeschooling can be the hardest and best of teaching jobs. But, mid-year we often need a little boost and perhaps even an Extreme Home(School) Makeover.

Twenty years ago, I set myself on a course to be a teacher. I was 19 and really wanted my life planned out. {chuckles} Little did I know back then….

Since my parents were teachers, it was definitely something I knew well. The teacher culture is unique just as is the policeman culture or that of the fireman. There’s verbiage and customs that ring true all across teacherdom. So choosing to be a teacher felt very natural.

Four years later I had a Bachelor’s, a Master’s and a teaching credential. Despite slim pickings in the local job market, I had also secured a teaching position two days AFTER the school year started. That first year I taught two different courses: American Literature and Beginning French. The year after that I had five preps (meaning five different classes to plan, teach and grade), more than one troubled student, several pairs of illogical parents to deal with, and a very stressful day.

Once I found out I was pregnant, I couldn’t wait for our first baby to be born so I could “retire.”

Ha! Little did I know then that God would set us on a path, even during that last teaching year, to teach our children at home. By the time my newborn was in my arms, I was of the mindset that I would be his teacher.

And I have been. And it’s been the best teaching job I ever took.

It’s also becoming the hardest. For those of you who read my Getting Started in Homeschooling series last summer, you’ll know that this year I’m teaching five of our children at home while keeping the sixth one happy and out of trouble. Definitely a new pitch to my learning curve.

Almost halfway through our year, I’m dragging. This is hard! And I’m not doing it well! Ugh!

Yes, I know it could be just the winter blues, but I live in CA! Bad weather is not my excuse. My zest — and theirs — is missing. A friend mentioned that everyone struggles mid-year. That is good to know!

But, I don’t want to limp along the next 4 to 5 months. I want to reclaim my love for teaching and learning. And I want my kids to be able to welcome each new school day with fewer whines, groans, and complaints.

So, I’m embarking on a new project in these last two weeks of the semester:

An Extreme Home(School) Makeover

Yes, really. I’m going to live a better story with our school. Or at least try my darndest. After all, today is a new day.

I’ve only seen that Home Makeover show a few times. The Keeper of the Remote (also a carpenter) always rolls his eyes and moves on. But, I’ve seen it enough to identify these steps.

Even if you don’t homeschool, maybe you’ll be able to apply them to your current challenge.

1. Acknowledge that something isn’t quite right.

For me, I know that we’re not energetic or efficient. So, I ask myself: Why are we doing this again? What needs fixing? Redesigning? Refurbishing?

2. Gut the place.

While I’m not going to ditch everything, hubs did encourage me to entertain all opinions and options. I will confess to being biased in a certain direction, but I am trying to have an open mind in terms of teaching approaches. There are some structures I know I’m keeping in place and others that I’d be okay with tearing out.

Having survived more than one physical home remodel, I know that living with “the bare bones” for awhile is a good way to get perspective.

3. Seek outside opinions.

I emailed my list of homeschooling mamas I admire and respect, who also happen to be flung all over the map. As answers come trickling in, I’m learning that I am not alone. This is a hard job, but it’s nice to know there are others working to make it be one of the best. I’m determined to push through and learn from the challenges.

In addition to reading their emails, I ordered some books and have scheduled some reading time next week to do more research. I’m also visiting homeschooling sites and forums for more inspiration and to gain perspective.

4. Design.

This is the fun part. And I’m eager to start afresh somewhat. Find new books. Explore new field trips. Add some pizzazz to our days.

5. Be willing to call in subcontractors.

Last semester was the first time that we ever outsourced some subjects. And they were/are great experiences. We love the online Latin class as well as the local science lab class we enrolled in. I’m trying to keep my eyes and ears open for other opportunities for outsourcing.

6. See it through to completion.

This is the hard part. In the immortal words of Calvin, “The days are just packed!” But, I am dedicated to giving my kids a fun and enriching learning experience at home. I think we’ve seen success in years passed. This year just takes a little more tweaking than others.

Obviously, this is a work in progress. I don’t have any real answers or tricks, but I’m very excited about this little “remodeling” project. I have no idea where it will end up. But, I don’t want to wait for things to change. That was just plain depressing….

How do YOU reenergize how you spend your days?

An Extreme Home(School) Makeover is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.